Improvement in centrifugal water-wheels



l. H. MEACHAM. Centrifugal Water-wheel.

Patented0ct.9,875. V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES H. MEACHAM, OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRIFUGAL WATER-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 169& lS, dated October 19, 1875; application filed August 10, 1875.

To all whom it may concer n:

Be it known that I, JAMES HUGH MEACHAM, of Petersburg, in' the conty of Dinwiddie and State of Virginia, have invented a new and lm proved Centrifugal \Vater-VVheel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact .description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing formin g a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevaton, and Fig. 2 a horizontal section.

The invention relates to turbine water-wheels, or those adapted to be run by the vertical or centrifugzl action ot' a liquid. It will first be described in connection with the drawing, and then pointed ont in the claims.

A represents a coical water-wheel, preferably so made that the incline shall be at an angle of about twenty-two and a halt' degrees to the base B, while only a sufficient space, O. is left on top from which to start the grooves D that begin on each radius of two crossing` diameters, and are gradually curved around, so as to issue at corresponding points b of the base. This wheel is inclosed by a case, E, that forms part of wheel, and which has the issues or discharge-holes e', one for each of the grooves D, and also a tube or neck, 6, that couples in a corresponding tube, f, of the water-reservoir F. The water is thus allowed to 'connects with the water-suppl y.

ooze slightly between these tubes, so-that as one turns within the other the joint is kept always lubricated. The reservoir F is provided with a pipe or channel way, f', which Gr is the spindle, fast in and passin gthrough center of wheel, journaled at the lower end in an adjustable hearing, H, to make the tube-joint eftighter or otherwise. In this wheel the water is made to act against the shoulders d of grooves in a horizontal as well as a vertical direction, thus utilizing a larger proportion than usual of the water-force. The grooves D may be vared in numbers; but less than two are of little practical advantage, while four is the nun ber which I prefer to enploy. 'The wheel may be constructed ot' Wood, metal, or any other material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. A water-wheel having a conical form, and curved grooves D running from apex to periphery of base, as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of wheel-case and waterreservoir, the former having a tube, e, that revolves in a tube, f, of the latter, as and for the purpose specified.

J. H. MEACHAM. Witnesses:

SoLoN G. KEMON, CHAS. A. PETTIT. 

